Where do you find information on Nam Theun 2?

If you’ve read any of the posts in my blog so far, you’ll notice that I’ve mentioned multiple times how much information there is on Nam Theun 2. One of the cornerstones (pdf) for the World Bank’s involvement on NT2 was that the project would be handled in a transparent manner, and that’s why all of the key reports on NT2 are publicly available. The aim of being transparent means that key documentation related to the project as it was being developed and now implemented is public, that the Bank proactively keeps people informed about what is happening (ahem, the blog for one), and that there would be continuous outreach to stakeholders including local and international consultations.

Assessment of impacts to fisheries, resettlement plans, environmental mitigation measures, economic studies, the famous Concession Agreement, independent assessments, semi-annual progress reports from the World Bank… they are all available on the web (see more below). Moreover open channels of communications are ongoing, meaning that -- for example from the World Bank side -- if you, reader, whoever you are, write to me with a question or comment, I will make sure to answer and point you to the relevant information, or put you in touch with one of my colleagues, or arrange a field visit if necessary.

Last year alone I did more than ten field visits with reporters, ambassadors and academics (and took part in bigger visits with NGOs as well)… and that’s just because they had directly contacted the World Bank. Usually, external visits to the site are hosted and arranged by NTPC (the Nam Theun Power Company), and they easily --and I’m not exaggerating-- undertake on average one visit by an external party to the site a week (which, on the other hand, means that they are heavily burdened as well, since they spend an inordinate amount of time is spent showing people around, answering questions, etc…) I should also say that a number of NGOs, journalists and others, visit the site by themselves on a regular basis.

Then there is NTPC’s website at http://www.namtheun2.com which has all the specific project information ranging from the financing to the dam infrastructure, the social and environmental programs and impact assessments, and maps and charts to illustrate everything. Namely their site includes information about shareholders and the company’s organization, project financing, design of the project infrastructure, social and environmental plans – including resettlement action plans, studies on elephants and other wildlife and health reports –, impact assessments, independent assessments, photographs, posters, maps and videos.